Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: June 14, 2026
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are low and temperature-sensitive, with the Beaverkill already close to the trout-stress line before today's warm weather.
- Status
- tough
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Temperature check first; use only a short confirmed cool-water window
- Best methods
- temperature check first, wet flies, nymphs
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are a thermometer-first call again today. USGS showed the Beaverkill at Cooks Falls at 152 cfs, 1.40 feet, and 66.4 F around 7:45 AM EDT, while the Willowemoc near Livingston Manor was 37.1 cfs, 1.94 feet, and 59.4 F around 7:15 AM EDT. Those readings are physically wadeable in many places, but the Beaverkill is already close to the 68 F trout-stress line before a warm afternoon, and current local Catskills context says the freestones have been running too warm in recent afternoons. Treat these waters as tough and fragile, check temperature before fishing, and leave them alone once readings approach 68 F.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Tough; low flows and warming trout water make this a temperature-first decision |
| Flow | 152 cfs at Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls; 37.1 cfs at Willowemoc near Livingston Manor |
| Gauge Height | 1.40 feet at Cooks Falls; 1.94 feet near Livingston Manor |
| Water Temp | 66.4 F at Cooks Falls; 59.4 F near Livingston Manor |
| Clarity | Not reported by official gauges |
| Trend | Flows are falling and remain low; afternoon temperatures are the limiting factor |
| Best Window | Temperature check first; use only a short confirmed cool-water window |
| Best Method | Thermometer first; wets, soft hackles, small nymphs, and emergers only while water is safely cool |
| Wadeability | Physically good to limited, but trout stress and low water override normal wading convenience |
Weather
For Livingston Manor and Roscoe, NY, the National Weather Service forecast calls for partly sunny weather and a high near 85 F, with southwest wind 2-12 mph. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms arrives late in the day, then showers and thunderstorms are likely tonight with a low around 50 F and a half to three quarters of an inch of possible rain. No active NWS alerts were posted for the point checked at report time. Tonight's rain may help, but it can also change flows and clarity quickly.
River Notes
The Beaverkill is the concern this morning: 66.4 F before the hottest part of the day leaves very little trout-handling margin. The Willowemoc gauge is cooler, but 37.1 cfs is thin, and low freestone water can warm quickly under sun. Current public Catskills context continues to point anglers away from warm freestone water after repeated afternoons near or above the stress range. If you inspect these rivers, take a stream thermometer, fish only water that is clearly below 68 F, avoid long fights and photos, and stop as soon as the temperature climbs. Cold tailwater water is the better trout choice today.
Hatch Activity
The hatch list is useful for the next safe cool window, not a reason to pressure marginal trout water. Blue Winged Olives, sulphurs, Isonychia, Light Cahills, caddis, spinners, and larger late-spring mayflies remain part of the Catskills box right now. Match rising fish only after the temperature decision is settled.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-18 | Relevant in cooler evening or rain-cooled windows, but do not chase them in warm water |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Best under cloud cover or rain-cooled conditions after temperatures recover |
| Isonychia | 10-12 | Nymphs and wets can work in riffles during genuinely cool water |
| Light Cahill | 14-16 | Carry for mixed evening mayfly activity when trout can be handled safely |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Pupa, soft hackles, and adults are useful around riffles in safe temperatures |
| March Brown / Grey Fox | 10-14 | A few larger bugs may still show; use only if fish are active in cool water |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-18 | Only fish the spinner fall if the water remains safely cool near dark |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Comparadun or Sparkle Dun | 14-18 | For a confirmed cool-water hatch window |
| Dry | BWO Comparadun | 18-22 | Use only if fish are rising in safe temperatures |
| Dry | Light Cahill or March Brown Parachute | 10-16 | Evening option after a temperature check |
| Dry | Rusty Spinner | 10-18 | Carry for the last-light fall if the water remains cool enough |
| Nymph | Isonychia Nymph | 10-12 | Fish faster riffles only in a safe-temperature window |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Useful below the surface around riffle tails |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail or Small Mayfly Nymph | 14-18 | Good dropper choice for cautious fish |
| Wet | Soft Hackle | 12-16 | Swing through pocket water only while temperatures are safe |
| Other | Stream Thermometer | Not reported | The first tool to use before fishing these freestones today |
Tactics
Do not let easy wading trick you into fishing stressed trout. Check temperature before rigging, start only if the water is clearly below the stress range, and keep the session short. If you do find a safe window, focus on faster broken water, shade, spring influence, and riffle edges with soft hackles, caddis pupa, and small mayfly nymphs. If temperatures are marginal or rising, stop fishing rather than trying to force a hatch or spinner-fall window. Recheck gauges after tonight's rain before planning Monday.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER KILL AT COOKS FALLS NY | 152 cfs | 66.4 F | USGS 01420500 |
| WILLOWEMOC CREEK NR LIVINGSTON MANOR NY | 37.1 cfs | 59.4 F | USGS 01419500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS stations 01420500 and 01419500, plus the National Weather Service forecast and alerts for the Livingston Manor and Roscoe, NY area. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge and weather data, with local public conditions reports reviewed separately for hatch, access, and method context.